8.—(1) The Department shall be the competent authority in Northern Ireland for—
(a)the approval of fitters and workshops for the installation and repair of recording equipment in accordance with Article 12 of the Community Recording Equipment Regulation; and
(b)the nomination of bodies for the carrying out of checks and inspections of recording equipment in accordance with Chapter VI of Annex I to that Regulation.
(2) An approval or nomination under paragraph (1) shall be in writing, shall specify its scope, shall provide for its withdrawal by the Department on written notice by it and, subject to paragraph (4), where the Department thinks fit, may contain conditions.
(3) An approval or nomination shall expire on 31st January next following the date of issue, and, if not withdrawn may, on application before the date of its expiry, be renewed for a further period ending on 31st January next following and thereafter for successive periods so ending.
(4) Conditions referred to in paragraph (2) may relate to—
(a)the fees to be charged for installing, repairing, checking or inspecting recording equipment;
(b)the places where and equipment by means of which such activities are, or are to be, carried out;
(c)the procedure to be adopted in carrying out such activities;
(d)the records to be kept and the evidence to be furnished of the carrying out of such activities;
(e)the training of persons for carrying out such activities;
(f)the inspection by or on behalf of the Department of places where and equipment by means of which such activities are, or are to be, carried out; and
(g)the display, at the places where such activities are carried out, of signs indicating that such activities are carried out there by fitters or workshops approved or, as the case may be, bodies nominated, by the Department.
(5) The Department shall publish from time to time lists of—
(a)the fitters and workshops approved by it; and
(b)the bodies nominated by it,
and any list published under sub-paragraph (a) shall specify the mark to be placed by each approved fitter or workshop on any seals which shall be affixed to any recording equipment.